FREE ESSAY ON MACBETH

MACBETH

The more things change the more they stay the same. These days there are countless books
and movies that have one person betraying another. In the middle of the seventeenth
century, there was also this same fascination with this type of plot. This morbid
interest has been present, throughout history, and nearly all societies. In the tragedy
Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the idea of usurping the thrown presents itself to
Macbeth, but Lady Macbeth proves herself as the catalyst he needed for his later
independent treachery.
The play starts with Macbeth encountering the three witches. In a prophecy that they tell
Macbeth, he will become King. The last witch tells him All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be
king here after (I.iii.56-57). Macbeth does not believe them until parts of their
prophecy come true. Macbeth has done nothing, yet, to help any of this prophecy come
true. He wonders if maybe he can do nothing and still become king. If chance will have me
king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir (I.iii.65-67). Macbeth tells his wife of
the prophecy. She then urges him to do whatever it takes to become king. She now becomes
infatuated with the idea. Although she did not come up with the ideas she is the one who
has taken it most to heart. Lady Macbeth thinks that they should do within their powers
to ensure that Macbeth becomes king. In contrast Macbeth thinks that maybe he can just
stand back and let everything happen with out doing anything. 
Macbeth with much urging form Lady Macbeth's decided that he will kill the king, and in
such a way as to make it possible for him to become king. Macbeth is fearful that he
might be caught. Macbeth is so afraid of this that he no longer wants to carry out the
awful deed. Lady Macbeth coerces Macbeth into going ahead and carrying it out. As Macbeth
makes his way to the kings chambers he sees and apparition. It is a dagger leading him on
toward his goal. He does not know if the dagger is real or just in his head. Before
killing, Macbeth says that King Duncan will either go to heaven or to hell, but that he
is not sure of witch. Both Macbeth and his wife want more power, but both are very afraid
of being caught Macbeth is the one who actually kills the king, but it is Lady Macbeth
that is the driving force that makes the decision to go ahead with their plan. Lady
Macbeth becomes that witch Macbeth needed for the first, and biggest, killing. He has
made the transformation form a loyal subject to a traitor and a tyrant with the first
steps being paved by his wife. With out his wife he would not have taken those first
steps. Lady Macbeth has proved to be just the accelerant that Macbeth need to be pushed
over the edge and down the slippery cliff that is betrayal. 
With the hardest part of their plan out of the way things fall into place rapidly.
Macbeth soon assumes the role of king. Now that he is king he asserts himself more and
more. In heavy contrast with earlier when he was a puppet to his wife he is now the one
pulling the strings. He begins to plan on his own. Compared to earlier when Lady did most
of the planing, Macbeth now is thinking, planing, and doing on his own. He now is
becoming very paranoid. He is consulting his wife less and less. Macbeth no longer feels
the need to talk with her and see what she thinks. This is also very different for him.
In the prophecy given to him by the witches, they tell him that his best friend Banquo
will be the father of kings but not be king himself. Macbeth is growing wary of his
friend. He now decides to kill him and his son. Unfortunately for Macbeth only Banquo is
the only one killed. The son of Banquo still lives. Lady Macbeth is now becoming less and
less mentally stable. A doctor tells Macbeth that she does not have a physical problem
but that of a mental one. Finally Lady Macbeth dies. Now that Macbeth has no qualms about
killing anyone, she is no longer needed by Macbeth, and for him has out lived her purpose
to him. Now that Lady Macbeth is dead she no longer involved in Macbeth's consolidation
of power. Macbeth has becomes the leader instead of his earlier position as follower and
executor. 
In conclusion we must look at how the idea of usurping the thrown presents itself to
Macbeth, but just how Lady Macbeth proves herself as the catalyst he needed for his later
independent treachery. They had many similarities and differences, many developed and
changed as the story progressed. They started as different, became the same, and then
with the loss of one became very different aging. 
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